A Bahriani has been accused of beating up an expatriate delivery rider after pelting him with bottles of perfume over a minor traffic disagreement, a continuing trial at the High Criminal Court heard.
The 32-year-old defendant, a driver himself, is on trial for allegedly assaulting the motorcyclist and unintentionally inflicting a disability on the Pakistani expatriate by knocking out two of his teeth. A medical report evaluated the extent of the rider’s injury as a ‘three per cent disability’. He also recalled that the defendant threw two glass perfume bottles at him, hitting and bruising his thigh, the court heard.
The driver has also been charged with intentionally damaging a vehicle, after breaking a side mirror of the man’s motorbike.
“It was 9am and I was driving in Saar when a motorcyclist entered my lane and stopped in front of me,” the car driver testified. “I gestured at him to move but he continuously beeped his horn without stopping. He got off the bike and I stepped out of my car. He immediately hit me with his helmet, so I punched him on the mouth.
“He fell down unconscious and I was alarmed, so I called the police and told them what had happened. Soon, an ambulance arrived to take him to hospital and I was driven to a police station for questioning.”
The defendant denied all charges saying he was acting in self defence and claimed that he was trying to kick the man when his foot accidentally hit the bike and damaged it. A mechanic stated that it would require BD45 to repair.
“On the day of the incident, the victim had stopped in the middle of the road in a manner that violated the law and traffic rules,” the defendant’s lawyer told the court.
“The way he made the stop was provocative, a position that obstructed the movement of motorists and pedestrians, creating a real safety hazard that could have ended in a car accident. He also used his horn and caused a disturbance.
“When the defendant tried to pass him, he couldn’t, so he got out of his car and asked him to move. The victim was stubborn and refused to respond, then got off his bike and left it in that same position. This behaviour reflected his neglect for road safety and rules.”
The attorney went on to claim that the Bahraini was surprised by a first blow from the Pakistani, who yielded a helmet and aimed it at the defendant’s face, although it hit his arm.
“If the blow had landed on his face it would have knocked out the majority of his teeth and broken his jaw,” his lawyer suggested. This sparked a ‘state of rage’ in the defendant and he protected himself and took the offensive out of fear of further attack.
The 20-year-old motorcyslist also faces a charge of assault which he denies. The case has been adjourned to January 27 for deliberation.
zainab@gdnmedia.bh
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